What Lies Beneath

Romain Édouard – Mariya Olehivna Muzychuk
4th Trophée Anatoly Karpov; Cap d’Agde, October 29, 2015
Nimzo-Indian Defence E59

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. d4 Bb4 5. e3 0-0 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 c5 8. 0-0 Nc6 9. a3 Bxc3 10. bxc3 b6 11. Qe2 Bb7 12. Bb2 Qc7 13. Bd3 e5 14. Nxe5 Nxe5 15. dxe5 Qxe5 16. c4 Qg5 17. f3 Rfe8 18. Rae1 Rad8 19. g3 h5 20. e4 h4 21. Qe3 Qg6 22. Re2 Nh5 23. Rg2

23. ... h3? More consistent was the immediate 23. ... f5! maintaining excellent attacking chances (if 24. gxh4? then 24. ... Rxd3!). Now White turns the tables. 24. Rd2 f5 25. e5 Rd7 26. g4 Rf7? Black’s last chance was 26. ... Rxd3 27. Qxd3 Bc8, although even then White maintained the advantage by 28. Qc2 Nf4 29. Rd6 Qg5 30. Bc1 fxg4 31. Bxf4 Qxf4 32. Qe4. 27. Kf2 Nf6 28. gxf5 Qh5 29. Qf4 g5 30. Rg1 Rg7 31. Qg3 1 : 0. “A complicated position of the Nimzo-Indian”, then Édouard said. “Strategically speaking, White stands well, but Black has plenty of initiative. She tried to mount a Kingside attack. It was in fact quite logical, but luckily for me her variations didn’t work”.